According to a report from Automotive News, BMW is considering adding a second North American plant - in Mexico. It would join the Sprtanburg, SC plant as the only other BMW plant in N.A.

Production at the Spartanburg plant has included the X5, X6, X3, and Z4 (no longer built in Spartanburg) and will soon include the X4 SAV. The potential Mexican plant would expand that to the 3 Series and future FWD 1 Series models. Production would set to begin at the plant in late 2016 / early 2017.

As many as four Mexican locations are being considered, with a decision due next year. Should it be built, the Mexican plant would eventually produce 100,000 - 150,000 vehicle annually, but start by producing no more than 40,000 - 50,000 vehicles, initially.

Building cars in Mexico is attractive for BMW because the country has trade agreements with North America, South America and some Asian countries. Trade among Mexico, Europe and the Mercosur countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is duty-free. BMW also considered some potential U.S. sites, but they have been ruled out.

Also attractive is that by shifting some 3 Series production to Mexico from Germany, BMW would be shielded further from currency fluctuations and could avoid expansion in the economically troubled euro zone.

And producing the 3 Series in Mexico would allow the company to price it more competitively against its biggest competitor, the Mercedes-Benz C class. Mercedes will produce the C-class sedan at its factory in Vance, Alabama starting in 2014.

So, Mercedes can build its SUVs and the C-class in the US, but BMW can't follow that lead? Fail. The Spartanburg plant has been an unqualified success. Why can't BMW build on that success and add the new factory here? I bought my X3 due to the excellent design and the fact that it was built by American workers. If the US is the target market, built it here! Look at what VW did with the 'new' Passat -- they can't build them fast enough to keep up with demand.

I realize that past performance is not an accurate predictor of the future, but I have a 2003 Honda that was produced in Mexico that has been absolutely flawless over the past 9.5 years. At the time, Honda built this model in either Mexico or Japan, and the Japanese built models were much more highly desired by the cognoscenti due to concerns of build-quality in Mexico. From my experience, my Mexican-produced Honda has been absolutely brilliant with zero problems. (By contrast, my german-made VW was absolute rubbish in terms of quality and reliability.)
Keep in mind that the 3 series isn't exactly a hand-built vehicle; it is produced on what appears to be a mostly automated assembly line (at least on the production videos I've seen). It isn't like a bunch of 3rd-generation Bavarian craftsmen in pristine white lab coats are lovingly building the current 3 series from scratch in their family workshops. I know many will vehemently disagree, but I'm not too concerned with where my car is built as long as it is built to BMW standards. Especially if it results in a cheaper sticker price!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_bimmer

Fail, same mistake VW did. Ill make sure not to get any of those models during that time period let alone a FWD bimmer ! cheap labor - cheap parts = no love going into that bmw

Production quality is a reflection of the manufacturing process and materials, not the country where the factory is located. All the engines will be built in germany and be shipped over. If they can mimic the quality control and factory processes they did in spartanburg, it will be fine.

The reason VW's are about as reliable as banana peel is b/c parent group VW/AUDI is a shit company for reliability, whether the car is made in germany, us, mexico, russia, china or wherever.

It does make me feel good that my X5 was built in the states, and that is unfortunate that they didn't choose a plant site here in the US.

Friend of mine just bought new Jetta for his daughter. After three weeks of ownership car is at the dealer for engine and trany change, and some other stuff.

Our 2001 Jetta's tranny literally dropped to the floor of our garage after pulling up the driveway and putting it in Park.. Was after our 20 mile drive home from the dealership. Car had less than 25mi on it. Made w/ pride in Mexico.

Was pretty shocked to see this on the front page as well.. Ugh.

I am not against the counter-argument of it being about the manufacture & process vs the location and employee wages, etc., but based on other things which are manufactured in Mexico, including vehicles... yeah....